Socio-economic and Environmental Impacts of Large-Scale Agricultural Investment in Gambella Region, Ethiopia

Degife, Azeb W.; Mauser, Wolfram

doi:10.17265/1548-6591/2017.04.001

Cited by 12 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“…It was found that mechanized farming and industrialization is having a negative implication for the livelihood of the local people, food security, and quality of life at large. This scenario is contrary to the Ethiopian government's rationale of promoting agricultural investment as one of the effective strategies to promote economic growth, food security and poverty reduction in the country (AZEB & MAUSER, 2017). Many studies on largescale land investments, mainly between government and investors, in rural Ethiopia disclosed their negative consequences.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 91%

The influence of mechanized farming and industrialization on the Oromo people, their traditional livelihood strategies and their environment in Ethiopia

Kuto

Bacha

Baru

2018

Environmental &Amp; Socio-Economic Studies

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This article discusses the influences of mechanized farming and industrialization on the Oromo traditional livelihood strategies and environment. Both qualitative and quantitative research approaches were employed for the study, specifically, observations, interviews, focus group discussions, case studies and surveys were used for data collection. The study revealed that, the traditional livelihood strategies of the Oromo and their environment are highly affected by mechanized farming and industrialization in the study area. These include the loss of crop land, the loss of pasture land, the loss of forest, the loss of water resources and other environmental damage. Moreover, it was found that people are not consulted in most cases about land expropriation for mechanized farming and industrialization; more often than not the community had no involvement at all. The whole process of land transfer was not disclosed to the local people and as a result, their traditional livelihood strategies were affected. The relationship between mechanized farming and industries, and local communities is not always harmonious. The community perceives industry and mechanized farming as their enemies. Consequently, mechanized farming and industries are kept safe by security forces. Correct environmental use by the local people in general and appropriate land use in particular is broken; fair water use is also ignored. Therefore, rather than favouring a few exploitative investors, the Government should empower the local community.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 91%

The influence of mechanized farming and industrialization on the Oromo people, their traditional livelihood strategies and their environment in Ethiopia

Kuto

Bacha

Baru

2018

Environmental &Amp; Socio-Economic Studies

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“…The African governments are provided with clear recommendations by the CAADP [3] on how to attain food security, evidence, technology, physical resources, and financial funds in order to facilitate community' access to the global market. The administration hasn't given any of these suggestions much thought thus far, although the reality seems to be different [4][5][6]. Developing agricultural land is meant to be the aim of this endeavor.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Large-Scale Agricultural Land Investment on Local Communities Livelihoods: Evidence from Bambasi Woreda, Western Ethiopia

Gasisa,

Yeneneh,

Benti

2024

AJERE

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Most of the African countries including Ethiopia are often known by problem of large scale agricultural land investment effects on the local community where land is being transferred to investment. Even though several efforts made so far to solve the overall effects of large scale agricultural land investment situation, the challenge is still widespread problem in Ethiopia. Hence the study project's purpose was to find out how large agricultural investments in Bambasi Woreda, Western Ethiopia impact the livelihoods of the surrounding populations and examine the local communities' participation in the large scale agricultural investment. In order to attain these objectives, data were collected from 330 randomly selected households in four purposively selected kebeles of the district for both control groups and treatment groups. The sample size was chosen using a multistage stratified random sampling technique. Both qualitative and quantitative data gathering techniques and instruments were employed in the study. Besides, the instruments utilized to collect the data were observations, focus groups, interviews, household surveys, and document reviews. Data was analyzed using both descriptive statistics and econometric methods. The study shows that out of the total sampled respondents 30 of the treatment group and 13 percent of control group reveal that the project provided opportunity in terms of employment opportunity, technology transfer, utilization of agricultural inputs, changing the working culture of the community and productivity. The chie square value shows there is statistical significance among treated and control group on opportunity investment provided for the household and community. A binary logit regression model was used to describe how large-scale agriculture land investment affected the local community's standard of living. The findings indicated that only six variables were found to be significant out of the characteristics that were expected to influence local community employment in large-scale agricultural land investment projects. These includes household's educational accomplishment, size of HH, occupation of HH, Loss of useful land due to investment Project and technology transfer significantly and positively affected the employment opportunity in large scale agricultural investment projects, whereas the distance of a household's home from an investment project has a negative impact. Large-scale agricultural investments have a detrimental influence on household wealth accumulation and income, according to the estimation results of the average treatment effects on the treated. The management and implementation of land transfer for large-scale agricultural investment projects is inadequate, lack of openness, absence of community consultation, natural forest degradation, socio-economic and ecological effects must be carefully considered before transferring the land for large-scale agricultural investment.

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“…Particularly leasing out large amounts of land for investment raises concerns about changes in land use, deforestation and the environmental effects (Messerli et al, 2014). In addition, as stated by Degife and Mauser (2017), the expansion of large agricultural farms is one of the reasons why forestland cover in Ethiopia continues to experience significant pressure and gradual decline.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Land-based investment implications on land use land cover change and livelihood of the local community in Northern Amhara Region, Ethiopia

Mulaw,

Birhanu,

Moges

2023

J. Agri. Environ. Sci.

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A surge in land-based investment has been taking place in developing countries, including Ethiopia, with the aim to foster economic growth, enhance food security, and reduce poverty. This study sought to investigate the impact of such investments in the western Armachiho district of the Amhara Regional State, Ethiopia, using remote sensing data from 1995, 2010, and 2020 supplemented by socioeconomic surveys and field observation to validate the spatial data. The results revealed significant land use and land cover changes in the district over the past twenty-five years. Forest cover decreased from 60.92% in 1995 to 27.6% in 2010, while water bodies, including rivers, streams, and ponds, declined from 3.04% to 1.4% during the same period. Conversely, built-up areas, bush land, farmland, and bare land exhibited an increasing trend. The observed changes during the initial study period can be attributed to the expansion of land-based investments and illegal farmland encroachment in the area under investigation. The results further indicated that the expansion of such investments during this period had adverse effects on the local community, resulting in the loss of access to farmland, grazing land, and forest products that served as sources of income. The results also demonstrated that the delineation of agricultural investment land, the closure of unproductive land, and the issuance of land-holding certificates have prevented illegal encroachment that contributed to the improvements in forestland cover between 2010 and 2020. Hence, when granting significant amounts of land for land-based investment, it is crucial to consider not only the short-term economic benefits but also the well-being of local communities and the principles of environmental sustainability.

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Socio-economic and Environmental Impacts of Large-Scale Agricultural Investment in Gambella Region, Ethiopia

Cited by 12 publications

References 6 publications

The influence of mechanized farming and industrialization on the Oromo people, their traditional livelihood strategies and their environment in Ethiopia

The influence of mechanized farming and industrialization on the Oromo people, their traditional livelihood strategies and their environment in Ethiopia

Effects of Large-Scale Agricultural Land Investment on Local Communities Livelihoods: Evidence from Bambasi Woreda, Western Ethiopia

Land-based investment implications on land use land cover change and livelihood of the local community in Northern Amhara Region, Ethiopia

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